PDMWorks Enterprise and Microsoft Dynamics

InFlow Technology has recently put the technology in place to integrate PDMWorks Enterprise with Microsoft Dynamics.  Currently the implementation supports Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains), but could be easily adopted for Dynamics AX or NAV.  The first screenshot shows the engineering BOM in PDMWorks Enterprise.  The second screenshot shows the BOM imported into Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0.

         

Here is how it works:

From within PDMWorks Enterprise, the user simply approves a CAD Assembly such as SolidWorks, Inventor, or SolidEdge.  From here a trigger outputs a file that is automatically formatted and imported into Microsoft Dynamics.  A Bill of Material and/or item master records can be imported into Microsoft Dynamics and the transaction completes within a few moments of the PDMWorks Enterprise approval.  If you don't have an approval process in PDMWorks Enterprise, just add a transition to manually send the data to Microsoft Dynamics (see screenshot).

What will this do for you?

If you are a user of Microsoft Dynamics and PDMWorks Enterprise, this integration will reduce the time it takes to move engineering BOM data into your ERP system.  You can save hours upon hours of labor cost and also reduce errors associated with data entry.  If you are interested in learning more about the integration, just contact InFlow Technology.

CATI Named in 'START-IT' 125 List

CATI, Inflow-Technologies parent company, has been granted the START-IT 125 Award!

"...The award was given to CATI for portraying distinct characteristics such as customer references, business model strength and execution, market leadership, and technological advancement through partnerships. "

An article about it can be found here at TenLinks.com.

This is absolutely fantastic news! I see the award as a testament to the customers and employees that have aligned themselves with CATI.

SmarTeam V5R17 SP8 Hot Fix

SmarTeam has issued a hot fix for V5R17 SP8.

We have been looking forward to this Hot Fix, and it should fix the issue we reported on March 25th (The client server issue).

If you are an Inflow-Technology customer, please contact us for information. If you are not a customer, you should be! All kidding aside (No seriously, you should be!), contact your local VAR for details.

When People Think “PLM,” They Think “Dassault Systèmes,” Says Analyst Firm CIMdata

"...CIMdata defines a mindshare leader as the company end-users most readily identified with the term “PLM.”  It is Dassault Systèmes’ third straight year at the top of the industry mindshare rankings. "

Source: http://www.3ds.com/news-events/press-releases/release/1758/1/?no_cache=1

Inflow-Technology, of course, deploys solutions based on Dassault's product. So, if Dassault is PLM, then Inflow-Technology is the PLM Solution! Chant that three times and tell your friends!

SolidWorks Integration Icons and SmarTeam

With the SmarTeam integration loaded in SolidWorks, do your icons look like this?

 

Doesn't quite look right, does it?

A quick way to fix this is to look in your Icon directory and delete these two files (back them up first!):

SWSmallToolbar.bmp
SWLargeToolbar.bmp

Deleting these files will force the SmarTeam integration to look at the icons stored in the actual application. Your icons will now look like this:

Much better, I think!

Based on the above information, it is possible for you to create your own icons, and put them into your icon directory. Just use the correct naming convention.

We did notice, however, using large icons still look incorrect.  We will submit that to SmarTeam.

Contact Inflow-Technology for more information.

PDMWorks Enterprise Report Generator

For users of PDMWorks Enterprise, you may notice the menu item "Report Generator" under the Tools menu in PDMWorks Enterprise.  There is information in the help about this tool, but in general terms, it allows users to plug in SQL queries to their PDMWorks Enterprise implementation.  For example, if you want to run a report such as:

• Users in a particular group
• Groups that the logged-in user belongs to
• Logged In users (report with License Type in use)
• Assembly Structure of an Assembly
• Complete Where Used report including all revisions
• Documents with Specified Configuration
• Documents in a particular state

These are just a few.  In fact, any SQL query can be turned into a report that can be imported into the Report Generator and executed by regular users.  The Reports are saved in a CRP format.  I have attached examples in a crp file.  (Download PDMWE_Sample_Reports.crp) 

Simply double click on this file to import the reports into your current vault.  From there, you just have to select which users/groups will have access to the reports.

To run the report, go to Tools > Report Generator (see screen shot)

Select the report to run and click the green arrow.  If you are running the report on a file, as shown in the screenshot, just drag and drop the file(s) into the report window before running.

SmarTeam V5R18 Service Pack 4

SmarTeam has released the long awaited service pack for V5R18.

It is long awaited because it introduces the support for SolidWorks 2008.
The service pack can be downloaded from the SmarTeam support web site.

If you are a SolidWorks organization, it is imperative that you read the release notes!
Please note: See the release notes for details on working with SolidWorks 2008 "Virtual Components".

Please contact Inflow Technology for more information.

Service Pack 8 for SmarTeam V5R17

SmarTeam has released service pack 8 for V5R17.

It can be downloaded from the SmarTeam support site.

SP8 boasts many enhancements, fixes to the SolidWorks integration, and is being anticipated quite heavily by many of Inflow's customers.

Inflow has done some testing of this service pack and would like to issue a caution to customers that may want to install this Service Pack.

We have found that in some cases when the server and client are using different Operating Systems (OS) the client can no longer communicate correctly with the server. SmarTeam has confirmed our findings, and they are issuing a “hotfix” for this issue. We believe this affects most SmarTeam customers. Please test before deploying!

The service pack requires that the server and all clients be at the same version (SP8). This, of course, is how SmarTeam always supports the product. However, we have found that customers will sometimes update the clients and then upgrade the server when time permits. You will not be able to communicate with the server if the versions are mismatched.

We will keep you posted on any other findings! Please visit Inflow Technology for more information.

****Update**** Please this post. SmarTeam has issued a HF for SP8.

Cultural Change - How some people view change

Just some fun stuff... Enjoy!

PDMWorks Enterprise SolidWorks 2008 Migration Utility

Included in the latest Service Pack of PDMWorks Enterprise 2008 is a utility for upgrading all your SolidWorks files in your PDMWorks Enterprise vault to a SolidWorks 2008 format.  The utility comes in your PDMWorks Enterprise installation package under the folder "\Support\File Version Upgrade".  The utility is called "File Version Upgrade.exe".  Double click on this exe file on your file server and it will install the necessary files in your PDMWorks Enterprise 2008 Program Files directory.  There you will find a file called UpgradeUtility.exe with a help file to get you started.  Before you install, you need to be at PDMWorks Enterprise 2008 SP2 and you need SolidWorks 2008 and a PDMWorks Enterprise client installed on the machine that you are using for the upgrade.  It will use a seat of SolidWorks during the upgrade.  Below are some features:

1. Ugrade based on file type (ie sldprt, sldasm)
2. Upgrade based on file state or based on some data card variables
3. Break your upgrade job into mulitple jobs
4. Share processing across multiple computers
5. Stop and start the migration and it picks up where it left off
6. The tool will not attempt the upgrade if the file is already SolidWorks 2008
7. The application can automatically increase the system version (optional)

Keep in mind, that each SolidWorks file will be opened and save automatically in SolidWorks 2008 so you will not be able to open files in SolidWorks 2007.  You also have to make sure all files are checked in before starting.  If you PDMWorks Enterprise vault is large, you probably want to do this in batches during off hours to reduce impact on SolidWorks users.  Also, remember to BACK UP your vault before progressing with the upgrade.  Any questions...forward to InFlow Technology.